Integrity at work is about more than honesty and respect. If an organization has a true culture of integrity, that means employees take their commitments seriously, are proactive when they don’t understand their responsibilities, and ultimately, are accountable for their results. As a result, the business thrives. We all want to make other people happy and succeed professionally. However, that can lead employees to overpromise on what they’re capable of, resulting in burnout and lack of engagement. Whether it’s constantly missing deadlines or losing interest in work altogether, a lack of integrity will harm both the company and the individuals who make it up. Integrity isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly important for real, lasting growth. From fostering an open and positive work environment to promoting strong and resilient teams, integrity in the workplace benefits employers and employees. Let’s review what integrity means, why having integrity at work matters, and how to foster it at your workplace. People with integrity recognize that their friends, coworkers, and community make their lives better. They show gratitude by always remembering to say a simple “thank you” when someone helps them out. They might also take the time to write a thoughtful note to a coworker who helped them complete an important project. Or, they may go the extra mile to give their friend a gift when they’ve supported them through a difficult time. A person with integrity doesn’t run away from difficult conversations or situations. If they have a conflict with another person, they’re open about it — they don’t hide their feelings only to become resentful later on. They are also honest about their time, abilities, and preferences. No matter the situation, integrity ultimately means your moral principles are more important than your personal comfort — and honesty can be uncomfortable sometimes.

My biggest obstacle was to get to vet school. I didn’t have best grades, because when I was younger I didn’t understand the importance they’d have on my future studies and career, and I wasn’t responsible enough to excel in school. I failed to get to a vet school two years in a row. Many people would give up and try something else, but I decided to follow my dream, though I knew I had to overcome significant odds. While not studying I tried to get experience from veterinary practices and zoos, because I believed it would help me in my application. This eventually turned out to be true. I got to vet school, earned my degree, and now I apply for a job with you. I do not like the word obstacle. In my opinion, most limitations and obstacles are self-imposed. One can reach as much as they imagine. It’s just about having ambition and dreaming big, regardless of what the others are saying. Sure, everyone is not born into a good family, having resources to study and to pursue their dreams. But even if you are lucky, just as I was, you still have to overcome your laziness, step out of your comfort zone, and stick with one thing long enough to succeed. That’s what I’ve been trying to do up to this point.My health was my biggest obstacle. I had bowel issues all my adolescent life, and also problems with food allergy and intolerance, and some related health issues. But I was brave enough to try different diets, though I faced an opposition form my family and also the doctors weren’t supportive of such drastic changes. Eventually I found out that vegan diet, based primarily on cooked vegetables and legumes, works best for me. I got rid of almost all health issues, and can finally function normally in my daily life. I can tell you it was super hard to switch to this diet, since I was addicted to sugar, coffee, and other things, but I wanted a better health so badly that I was unstoppable in pursuing it, and ready to overcome any obstacles on my way. I remember a good situation from my last job. We tried to develop an innovative mobile app, with a goal to help with screening for certain common diseases. But the project was very innovative, I didn’t have full support from the management, and they didn’t allocate sufficient budget for the project. Well, I could have just given up and moved on. But I didn’t do that. I pleaded with them, presented more and more arguments, because I knew that if we succeeded, we could have built the next big thing. Eventually I managed to convince the managers, and they extended the budget. We eventually didn’t succeed with our goal–the app wasn’t accurate enough to break into mainstream use. But I am still glad that I tried, and overcame an obstacle.